Antonio Brown has publicly accused the Cleveland Browns owner of violating a reported agreement among team owners not to draft Shedeur Sanders in a dramatic twist to the fallout of the quarterback’s 2025 NFL Draft slump.
The 23-year-old, who is the son of Deion ‘Coach Prime’ Sanders, was widely projected to be selected among the top three picks in this year’s draft. Instead, he fell to the fifth round, where the Browns selected him with the 144th pick.
Now in a bold accusation, Brown, an ex-NFL wide receiver known for his controversial personality, has accused Jimmy Haslam of snubbing an agreement between all teams to overlook the youngster.
“Jimmy doesn’t want to publicly admit he broke the agreement between the 31 other teams,” Brown stated, implying that a pact existed to intentionally pass on Shedeur during the draft.
The development comes after Haslam deflected responsibility for the pick, attributing the decision to Browns General Manager Andrew Berry during the team’s training camp on July 29.
“We had a conversation early that morning,” Haslam said. “And then we had a conversation later that day.
“That’s Andrew Berry’s call. Andrew made the call to pick Shedeur, just like who’s going to start, or what play, we’re going to call, is Kevin’s [Stefanski] call, that’s Andrew’s call. He made the call.”
Shedeur’s unexpected slide down the board has fueled speculation of a coordinated effort to suppress his draft stock, with reports of fears of his father’s outspokenness and unorthodox approach to coaching and media engagement.
While the claim of a formal agreement remains unsubstantiated, the NFL community is taking notice of the unusual circumstances surrounding Sanders’ draft experience after a successful season in the NCAA with the Colorado Buffaloes.
He produced 4134 passing yards for 37 touchdowns, allowing just 10 interceptions across 477 passing attempts (74% completion). He also added four rushing touchdowns on 100 yards, but had a negative yardage of -50.
Browns prepare for practise ahead of Carolina Panthers clash
Sanders now enters a crowded quarterback room in Cleveland, competing for a starting spot amid experienced names. The Browns have added Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett this offseason, whilst their rookie, Dillon Gabriel, has also reportedly impressed.
The team’s head coach, Stefanski, faces a complex decision in choosing a starting quarterback ahead of the 2025 season, which they open with a match at home against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North.
Despite the criticism, Shedeur may still get a platform to showcase his abilities on August 8 with a game against the Carolina Panthers, providing him with a potential opportunity to shift the narrative and demonstrate his readiness.
Meanwhile, training camp continues in Berea, Ohio. There is a media day on Friday, August 1, before practise begins at 2:00 p.m ET. and is open to ticketed fans.
The Browns are entering Day 10 of camp following a day off and are working through injuries, including a season-ending Achilles rupture suffered by cornerback Martin Emerson Jr.
The team will continue practices through August 4 before traveling to Carolina for joint sessions with the Panthers ahead of their preseason opener.
